Pilot&#39;s ladder and the like



Aug. 22, 1961 G. ca. ROBERTS 2,997,128

PILOT'S LADDER AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 31, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1961 G. G. ROBERTS PILOT'S LADDER AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 31, 1957 A iax INVENTOR.

GEORGE 6' ROBE 5 ATTORNEY 2,997,128 PILOTS LADDER AND THE LIKE George G. Roberts, 4152 Jefferson St., Redwood City, Calif.

Original application Jan. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 637,536, new Patent No. 2,943,696, dated June 5, 1960. Divided and this application July 3, 1959, Ser. No. 829,173

4 Claims. (Cl. 182'196) This invention relates to improvements in ladders with flexible stiles, such as a pilo-ts ladder (also called a Jacobs ladder or an embarkation ladder), which is hung over the side of a ship to enable a pilot to board and leave the ship. This application is a division of application Serial No. 637,536, filed January 31, 1957, now Patent No. 2,943,696, issued June 5, 1960, and relates particularly to rope ladders.

One reason why pilots ladders are made with flexible stiles is so that they can be collapsed and stored when not in use. However, the pilots ladders heretofore in use have formed a bulky roll when they were collapsed because excessive space was consumed by the rung-supporting frames (also known as spacing ears). I have now solved that problem by providing a rung-supporting frame or ear of novel structure, which also serves as a handgrasp stirrup and a lashing ring. This new stirrup, dis closed and claimed in the parent application, Serial No. 637,536, enables attachment to flexible tensioning members, such as chains, cable or rope in a new way that makes it possible to fold the ladder into .a minimum amount of space instead of coiling it. In the present application a novel connection to rope ladders is set forth. As a result of my invention, the folded ladder consumes much less space than the rolled ladders heretofore in use.

Manufacture and assembly of my new ladder is especially easy, inexpensive, and rapid because each rung and stirrup assembly is secured to the flexible rope stiles by a single means-one bolt and nut or one rivet-at each stile.

An important feature of my invention is that an additional connection and steadiness is obtained by the fact that each stirrup itself passes through a rope stile at a spaced distance from the single securing means, instead of having a second bolt or rivet or a special clip.

Manufacturers of pilots ladders have also been confronted heretofore with the problem of having to fabricate a large number of different parts; the very number and the fabrication of these parts has increased the manufacturing and assembly costs and the time of assembly. My new ladder has fewer parts, and most of these parts are more easily and inexpensively made than the parts of pilots ladders heretofore in use. The net result is that my ladder is not only better than any pilots ladder heretofore available, but is also substantially less expensive.

At the same time, my invention makes it easy to replace broken rungs or smashed ears if the ladders are damaged, though the construction of the latter reduces the likelihood of such damage. For the first time a pilots ladder can be a maintainable part of a ships equipment without any sacrifice of safety and without having to carry special tools or any special parts except a few extra stirrups.

One important object, therefore, of my invention is to provide a flexible rope stile ladder having a novel form nited tates atent O 2 of handgrasp stirrup that joins the stiles and the lungs in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pilots ladder that is easily folded for storage and, when folded, is quite compact.

A further object is to provide a less expensive ladder that is superior to the more expensive ones now being used.

Another object is to provide an easily assembled pilots ladder, having fewer parts than such ladders have had heretofore and with those parts easier to assemble than heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strong and safe pilots ladder at low cost.

Another object is to provide a pilots ladder in which the stirrup is made in one piece, passes through the rope stile at about its midpoint, and is bolted to the stile and rungs by a single means adjacent its open end.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of portions of a rope ladder embodying the principles of the invention, the rope ladder being broken because of space limitations.

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation of the ladder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view, on an enlarged scale as compared with FIGS. 1 and 2, of one of the handgrasp stirrups showing its attachment to the rope stile and to wooden rungs.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the stile of FIG. 3, showing the fitting that provides the bolt-receiving opening through the stile.

Ladders embodying the present invention are assembled from four basic elements: (1) flexible stiles A (one pair for each ladder), (2) rungs B, (3) the novel handgrasp and rung-supporting stirrups C (a pair for each rung B), and (4) locking means D (one each for each ear 12).

The ladder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is assembled from the following elements, illustrating the basic approach: (1) flexible rope stiles 10 (one pair for each ladder), (2) rungs 11, (3) spacing, rung-supporting handgrasp and lashing-ring frames or stirrups 12 (a pair for each rung 11), and (4) locking bolts 13 with nuts 14 (one each for each ear 12). There may also be terminal connections, such as round lashing rings 60.

For economic reasons, each rung 11 preferably com.- prises a pair of members, such as a pair of rectangular wooden boards 20, 21 of any satisfactory type, specially prepared only by drill-ing one bolt hole 22 through each end portion (see FIG. 3). Or each rung -11 may comprise a pair of hollow rectangular metal tubes 23, 24 similarly drilled at 25 and preferably made from lightweight metal, such as an aluminum alloy (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In either event, the rungs 1 1 may be made from the simplest standard materials, no special processing being required beyond the bolt opening 22 or 25.

The handgrasp stirrups C not only support the rungs B on the ropes A but also space the ladder stiles A away from the sides of the ship and provide safe hand holds. They also serve as lashing rings when a shorter ladded is needed. Preferably, each handhold stirrup C is made r from a single strip of metal, such as steel or a strong aluminum alloy, bent to shape. Each handhold stirrup C may be described as generally D-sh aped but with a split base recurved on both sides. Or it may be described as an inverted U with added base members. An important thing is that substantially all the stirrup C lies above (or below) the rung B, instead of being centered with respect thereto, as in the prior art. Another important thing is that the central portion of the stirrup C passes through the flexible rope stile A, and that the rungs B and stirrup C are secured together and to the stile A by a single means D.

Each handgrasp stirrup 12 (see FIG. 3) has a pair of parallel vertical side portions 30', 31, either one of which is adapted to lie flat against the side of a ship. At the upper ends of the portions 30, 31 are converging portions 32, 33 extending upwardly and inwardly to a generally horizontal top portion 34. In place of the angular construction shown, the portions 32, 33 and 34 may comprise an are or curve, but it is highly preferable that the top portion 34 be flat. Notches 35, 35 in the top portion 34 provide for engagement of the stile A. The stirrup C is easily fed into the stile A (at a rope opening 71) from either end thereof. The notches 35 provide only a sliding engagement with the stile A, to permit a slight relative movement therebetween.

At the lower end of each stirrup or ear 12 are inwardly extending base portions 36, 37 that terminate at their inner ends in short downwardly extending inner rims 38, 39 which, in turn, may lead to outwardly extending flanges 49, 41 (FIG. 3) or 42, 43 (FIG. 2). When wooden rungs B are used (FIG. 3), longer flanges 40, 41 may be provided in the stirrup 12*, extending about twothirds or more of the width of the boards 26, 21, while shorter flanges 4.2, 43 may be used with the metal rungs 23, 24.

The heights of the portions 38, 39 are preferably matched to the thicknesses of the rung panels 29. 21 or 23, 24, to provide a snug fit of these in the channel provided by the portions 36, 38, 40 and 37, 39, 41, while the length of the upper base portions 36, 37 are approximately the same as the width of the rung panels. The vertical rim portions 38, 39 are drilled to provide boltreceiving openings through which the bolt 13 extends.

The stile A may be made from wire, fibre or synthetic fibre rope. FIGS. 3 and 4 show such a rope 70 used as a flexible stile A. An upper hole 71 may be provided by a plastic or metal grommet 72 molded or fastened on the rope 70 between some strands 73 and other strands 74. The stirrup 12 may be threaded through the hole 71, and the notches 35 hold the stirrup in the proper position.

Spaced at a distance from the hole 71 corresponding to the distance between the notches 35 and the bolt 13 to be inserted, is a second hole in the rope 70. This second hole may be provided by a grommet like the grommet 72, and like it the fibres may be strengthened (if desired) by rings 75 and 76. However, I prefer to use a member 80 providing a hole 81 as a through passage through itself and between the rope fibres 73, 74 and also providing spacing sleeves 82, 83 to keep the stirrup portions 38, 39 the proper distance apart. The member 80 may be molded on the rope 70. It may be plastic that either bonds to the rope strands or at least is intimately joined to them, as shown in FIG. 4. Such a pair of members 80 made of a suitable plastic such as nylon or polyethylene and applied to a Mylar-fibre rope :has held 1100 lbs. of weight on a rung without shifting or showing any weakness. The only reason for not adding more weight was fear that the rung itself would break. Thus, the stirrup passes through the stile and a single means secures the stirrup, stile, and rungs together.

Obviously, this invention makes it easy to adjust the distance between steps, by spacing one pair of the holes 81, 71 of a rope 70 at any desired spacing from the next pair of holes 81, 71.

When the ladder is in place on a ship, the upper ends of the chain may be anchored by lashing rings 60 or,

especially when the ladded is to be shortened, a stirrup 12 may be used as a lashing ring. In fact, special lashing rings 60 need not be used at all. When the ladder hangs down, the handgrasp-lashing rings 12 hold the rope 10 away from direct contact with the ships sides and afford hand holds, so that the ladder is easily ascended and descended. The ladder can be folded tightly into a small bundle. When let down, the ladder will unfold readily Without placing undue stress on the rope 10.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A pilots ladder or the like including in combination a pair of rope stiles; a plurality of stirrups secured to each stile, each stirrup having a pair of parallel vertical side portions, an upper end portion joining said vertical portions at the top and passing through said rope between strands and provided with a pair of slots in opposite edges engaging said strands, a pair of base portions extending in toward each other from the lower ends of the vertical portions, a pair of vertically depending portions extending down from the inner ends of said base portions, and a pair of outwardly-turned flanges extending out from the lower end of said depending portions; a series of pairs of narrow tread members supported at 0pposite ends by said stirrups, each nested in the threesided support provided by said base portions, said depending portions, and said outwardly-turned flanges; a plastic member molded on said rope and providing a bolt opening therethrough and having integral spacing arms bearing against said depending portions; and bolts each extending through one end of a pair of said tread members, both said depending portions, a said plastic member, and said rope.

2. A pilots ladder or the like including in combination a pair of rope stiles, each having a series of grommets defining openings therethrough; a plurality of stirrups secured to each stile, each stirrup having a pair of parallel vertical side portions, an upper end portion joining said vertical portions at the top and passing through a said grommet and provided with a pair of slots in opposite edges engaging said grommets, a pair of base portions extending in toward each other from the lower ends of the vertical portions, a pair of vertically depending portions extending down from the inner ends of said base portions, and a pair of outwardly-turned flanges extending out from the lower end of said depending portions; 9. series of pairs of narrow tread members supported at opposite ends by said stirrups, each nested in the three-sided support provided by said base portions, said depending portions, and said outwardly-turned flanges; a plastic member molded on said rope and providing a bolt opening therethrough and having integral spacing arms bearing against said depending portions; and bolts each extending through one end of a pair of said tread members, both said depending portions, and the bolt opening in said plastic member.

3. A pilots ladder or the like including in combination a pair of rope stiles; a plurality of stirrups secured to each stile, each stirrup having a pair of parallel vertical side portions, an upper end portion joining said vertical portions at the top and passing through said rope between strands, a pair of base portions extending in toward each other from the lower ends of the vertical portions, a pair of vertically depending portions extending down from the inner ends of said base portions, and a pair of outwardlyturned flanges extending out from the lower end of said depending portions; a series of pairs of narrow tread members supported at opposite ends by said stirrups, each nested in the three-sided support provided by said base portions, said depending portions, and said outwardlyturned flanges; a plastic member molded on said rope and providing a bolt opening therethrough and having integral spacing arms bearing against said depending portions; and fastening means extending through a pair of said tread members, both said depending portions, and the bolt opening in said plastic member.

4. A pilots ladder or the like including in combination a pair of rope stiles; a plurality of stirrups secured to each stile and having a pair of depending portions; 21 series of pairs of narrow tread members supported at opposite ends by said stirrups; a plastic member molded on said rope and providing a bolt opening therethrough and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,349,125 Full Aug. 10, 1920 2,638,260 Skolmen et al. May 12, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,282 Great Britain May 18, 1941 

